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The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra led by chief conductor Marc Albrecht is the only Dutch orchestra to be nominated for an Edison Classical Music Award. The orchestra was nominated for the award for its recording of the opera Arabella by Strauss. ‘Any recording of Richard Strauss's opera Arabella is an asset, but particularly if conductor Marc Albrecht is able to lift the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra with choir and soloists to new dizzy heights’, is how the expert jury, chaired by Mischa Spel, described this recording of the opera by The Netherlands Opera. The winners of the Edison Classical Music Awards will be announced on Sunday 27 November.

Nominations
The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra is in good company. Other nominations in the opera category are the Orchestra e Coro dell’accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia led by Antonio Pappano for Verdi’s Aida, and the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin led by René Jacobs with the RIAS Chamber Choir for Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail.

Arabella
The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra led by Marc Albrecht played Arabella at The National Opera in April 2014. The part of Arabella was sung by Jacquelyn Wagner for the recording, and Christof Loy was the director. The recording came out in September 2015, produced by Challenge Classics. ‘The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Albrecht and Strauss – this is a truly wonderful combination’, commented Trouw newspaper in its 4-star review of the recording.

Permanent orchestra partner
The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra have been partnering The National Opera on a permanent basis since 1985. Every year, the orchestras play the majority of the opera productions in the National Opera & Ballet. Marc Albrecht is chief conductor of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and The National Opera, a position that has allowed him to strengthen the highly acclaimed artistic collaboration between the two organisations even further. The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra will play three operas in the 2016/2017 season, and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra will play four.

Marc Albrecht extends contract until end of 2019-2020 season

Chief conductor Marc Albrecht has extended his contract with the Dutch National Opera and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra until the end of the 2019-2020 season. The announcement was made before the première of the opera Don Giovanni in the National Opera & Ballet in Amsterdam, by Marc Albrecht himself, along with Els van der Plas (General Director Dutch National Opera & Ballet), Pierre Audi (Director Dutch National Opera) and Rob Streevelaar (Managing Director Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra).

2016-2017 season
Marc Albrecht will stay on as chief conductor of the Dutch National Opera and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra until the end of the 2019-2020 season. His programme as conductor of the Dutch National Opera during the 2016-2017 season includes Parsifal by Wagner in December 2016 and Wozzeck by Berg in March 2017. As conductor of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra in The Concertgebouw, he will conduct Piano Concerto No. 3 by Rachmaninoff (October 2016), Symphony No. 5 by Bruckner (November 2016), Symphony No. 3 by Brahms (February 2017) and Symphony No. 9 by his beloved Mahler (June 2017).

Marc Albrecht
The German-born conductor Marc Albrecht (1964) has been chief conductor of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and the Dutch National Opera since 2011. The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra have been the principal orchestras for the Dutch National Opera since it was founded in 1985. Marc Albrecht recently made a deep impression with the operas Der Schatzgräber (which won an Edison Award in December 2014), Der Rosenkavalier (awarded five stars by both De Volkskrant and Trouw national newspapers in 2015), and Lohengrin.

Press reactions to Marc Albrecht
George Loomis from the New York Times commended Marc Albrecht’s interpretation of the opera Gurre-Lieder in September 2014. ‘Marc Albrecht’s masterful conducting of the Netherlands Philharmonic emphasizes not just the score’s decibel level but also exquisite, chamber-like details’. Shirley Apthorp from the Financial Times also praised the way he conducts this orchestra. ‘He directs the Netherlands Philharmonic with gossamer transparency, shaping the whole with an arresting combination of vision and modesty.' But Albrecht was also hailed in the Dutch media. Mischa Spel from the NRC Handelsblad described his rendition of Mahler 5 in April 2016 as follows: ‘Mahler conducted by Marc Albrecht is a joy to behold: he is a true visionary.’

The Dutch National Opera
According to Pierre Audi, Director of the Dutch National Opera, Marc Albrecht has made a tremendous contribution to raising the Dutch National Opera’s musical profile. ‘The close partnership with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, of which Marc is also chief conductor, has enriched the opera seasons with memorable productions and award-winning recordings. We look forward to continuing this wonderful synergy in the seasons to come; a golden opportunity for all the parties to broaden and deepen their partnership.’

Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra
Rob Streevelaar, Managing director of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, is delighted that Albrecht has extended his contract and stresses the added benefits of a joint chief conductor for the opera house and the orchestra. ‘Marc Albrecht’s modus operandi brings the power of classical music to life in both our opera and concert performances: he takes the musicians on a voyage of discovery, pushing back the musical boundaries in every performance. This touches your very soul, giving audiences the ultimate concert and opera experience.’ The operatic successes of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and vast international exposure of the Dutch National Opera has raised the international profile and increased appreciation of the orchestra. ‘We are delighted to be able to continue this success and pursue our artistic development and musical partnership with Marc Albrecht and the Dutch National Opera.’